Sonja Rita Kamber, 91, of South Kohala died Jan. 5 at home. Born in Leipzig, Germany, she was a retired registered nurse, author of “Sonja’s Story,” swimmer and world traveler. Private service held. No flowers. Memorial donations can be sent to North Hawaii Hospice, 65-1328 Kawaihae Road, Kamuela, HI 96743. Survived by sons, Andre Kamber and Peter Kamber of Washington; grandchildren and extended family. Arrangements by Cremation Services of West Hawaii.
Clement “Smokey” Kaopua Kanehailua, 85, of Oceanside, Calif., died March 8. Born in North Kohala, he was owner of Smokey’s Service Center, mechanic at Dragmaster, drag racer, hydroplane racer, cowboy and bulldozer operator at Kahua Ranch, and U.S. Marine Corps and Hawaii National Guard veteran. No flowers. Memorial donations to Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at adrc.ucsd.edu/givenow.html. Survived by wife, Patricia Kanehailua; sons, Milton (Christine) Kanehailua, Raymond (Marilynn) Kanehailua, Scott (Francine) Higley, Clement Kanehailua Jr., James Wilson and Joseph Kanehailua; daughters, Ann (Timothy) Kanehailua-Coito, Deanna (Lafi) Tuiletufuga and Jeanette (Glenn) Goodrich; siblings, Bertha (Donald) Walls, DaveyAnn Hao, Dorothy (Benjamin) Badua, Gertrude Glory, Rocky (Melva) Perez, Earline (Theodore) Miller, John Pua Kanehailua, Lawrence Kiha (Janice) Kanehailua, Nona Kanehailua and Arlene (Marlon) Ramones; 26 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Arrangements by Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Oceanside, Calif.
Sylvia Haruko Kishimoto, 93, of Hilo died Feb. 28 at her daughter’s home in Kailua, Oahu. Born in Kaapahu, Honokaa, she was a retired waitress for the former Dick’s Coffee House, retired helper for Two Ladies Kitchen, Retired Senior Volunteer Program volunteer at Wailoa Center and member of Project Dana and Hui Okinawa. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by sons, Randall (Wendy) Kishimoto and Donn (Evelyn) Kishimoto of Hilo; daughters, Karen (Frank) White of Pepeekeo, Phyllis (Derrick) Tsukayama of Kailua, Oahu, and Laurie Kishimoto of Honolulu; brother, Robert Mineo (Beatrice) Nakamoto of Vancouver, Wash.; sister, Judy Nakamoto Mattos of Mililani, Oahu; in-laws, Miyo Nakamoto of Honolulu, Michiko Nakamoto of Sagamihara, Japan, Ruth Nakamoto of Garden Grove, Calif., Sachiko Kishimoto of Hilo, Yaeko “Sally” Kishimoto of Honolulu, Hideyoshi “Bill” (Alice) Kishimoto of Honolulu and Margaret “Bonnie” Kishimoto of East Hartford, Conn.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Raphael “Ralph” Tomas, 73, of Hilo died March 10 in Hilo. Born in Hilo, he was a retired meat cutter for KTA Super Stores, U.S. Army veteran and boys basketball coach at Pahoa High School and girls basketball coach at Waiakea and Hilo high schools. Visitation 8-10 a.m. Friday, April 5, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, followed by eulogy and military honors. Mass over urn at 10:30 a.m. Casual attire; no flowers. Celebration of life at noon at Church of Holy Cross, 440 W. Lanikaula St. in Hilo. Survived by wife, Bernadette Tomas of Hilo; daughters, Marlo (Francis) Tau‘a of Honolulu, Tanya (Greg) DeLuz of Paauilo and Jodi (JD) Penn of Hilo; brothers, Edward Tomas of Honolulu, Julio (Janet) Tomas of Mountain View and Jaime (Mary) Tomas of Hilo; sisters, Helen Latorre and Aggie (Eben) Maikui of Honolulu; sisters-in-law, Nellie Tomas and Linda Tomas of Honolulu, Marina Tomas, Odetta Tomas, Aileen Mattos, Rosemary Nunogawa and Sherry (John) Macayan of Hilo; brothers-in-law, Jippy (Connie) Mattos of Hilo, Thomas (Jackie) Mattos of Wisconsin, Roy (Jill) Mattos of Honokaa and Gordon (Adele) Mattos of Kauai; six grandsons; nieces and nephews. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
Eiko Yamaoka, 90, of Hilo died Feb. 25 at home. Born in Papaaloa, she was a retired clerical worker and member of Taishoji Soto Mission. Private services held. No flowers or koden (monetary gifts). Survived by brother, Masato (Yukiko) Masaki of Hilo; sister, Eleanor Sachiko Kokubun of Honolulu; sister-in-law, Hisae Masaki of Hilo; a nephew, a niece and cousins. Arrangements by Dodo Mortuary.
